Memorial Day: A Day Off or a Day to Celebrate Heroes?
Tuesday is the day to share a “Slice of Life” with Two Writing Teachers. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here.
What do you know about Memorial Day? What does Memorial Day mean to you?
Does your knowledge impact how you celebrate Memorial Day? There is a plethora of information available and this post contains just a sample from many possibilities. Articles, videos, and pictures can be found on the History Channel, this website, and the national Memorial Day Concert here. You decide which one (s) add to your increased understanding!
One quote that stands out from the concert link is this:
“We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.”
– James A. Garfield
May 30, 1868 Arlington National Cemetery
From my daughter-in-law’s post (wife of active Army soldier) on face book ~
“The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.” — Thucydides
Accompanied by Uncle Larry’s flag ~
From my sister ~ Celebrating family members
The six name plates in the bottom right hand corner of the first picture are all family members!
And the words of JFK in the memorial in Washington, Iowa.
From my brother who continues to serve ~
From my sister-in-law ~
“Thank you to all who have served to protect our freedoms. Your sacrifices are not unnoticed.”
From my sister’s sister-in-law ~
The memorial near Albia, Iowa (21 crosses for the 21 gun salute)
Gary Vought posted this on Twitter ~
@ThreeLakesWI cemetary
From Arlington National Cemetary ~
From The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier ~
And even Hawkeye Football posted this ~
“Land of the free because of the brave. Thank you to those who have sacrificed so much for this great country!”
How do we know what Memorial Day means to you?
A Day Off or A Day to Celebrate Heroes?
How did you spend Memorial Day? Did you ~
Celebrate?
Honor?
Remember?
What pictures and/or words are important to you?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts below!
SOL: On the Importance of Reading
Tuesday is the day to share a “Slice of Life” with Two Writing Teachers. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here.
This is the third in a series about “The Importance of . . . Check out the previous posts here
I was out of town for training and really wanted to write about assessments, processes, in the life that I was living, but that will be a secret for at least six more weeks as the wheels of bureaucracy turn. At one point this morning I actually had six different beginnings to this post. So it was not procrastination, but the receiving end of professional development that has moved this post to the end of the day.
* * * * * *
Beth Moore’s call for “Slicers” today in the link above included this quote:
“I really think that reading is just as important as writing when you’re trying to be a writer because it’s the only apprenticeship we have, it’s the only way of learning how to write a story.” ~From the Brotherhood 2.0 project. – John Green
How important is reading in your life?
There are days that I feel like I cannot breathe because I haven’t read or written anything. As necessary as breathing – that’s my literacy life.
Do any of these quotes reflect the importance of reading in your life?
“We read to know we are not alone.” C.S. Lewis
“Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting.” Edmund Burke
“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” Frederick Douglass
“A capacity and taste for reading gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others. ” Abraham Lincoln
Please share your favorite quote!
How do you show that importance in your own life?
Slice of Life: On the Importance of Writing
Tuesday is the day to share a “Slice of Life” with Two Writing Teachers. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here.
What do we write?
This graphic lists many ideas. What would you add?
Why do we write?
How important is writing? For some, writing is a chore. For others, writing is as necessary as breathing. Do you fall somewhere in between?
Some authors believe that writing is the primary basis upon which one’s work, learning, and intellect will be judged—in college, in the work place and in the community. Should all that weight rest on one’s writing? Should writing be an evaluative tool?
What about writing in school? (Real writing – not filling in blanks) What if writing is critical in order to become a good reader? Does that mean that writing deserves equal time in classrooms? Does that happen?
Why do I write? Sometimes to preserve my ideas and memories. Sometimes to make my thinking and learning visible and permanent. But sometimes I write because I feel compelled to explain my ideas to others as well as myself. Writing also helps me understand my life.
Ali Hale has a wonderful post about why your writing matters that you can read here with specifics for these five points:
#1: It’s Not Just a Hobby
#2: Your Writing Can Outlive You
#3: You Can Change Lives
#4: Self-Expression is Important
#5: You’re Improving with Every Word You Write
Writing was important in one-room schoolhouses. Check out the writing on the walls in the picture below. But also note the speakers and listeners in the room as well. No one medium of communication is “the only one” as the connections between reading, writing, speaking and listening must all be nurtured. What does this picture say to you?
Why do you write?
What will you do, this week, to make your writing a more important part of your life?
On the Importance of Listening
Tuesday is the day to share a “Slice of Life” with Two Writing Teachers. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here.
As a literacy specialist, I so love the fact that the English/Language Arts Standards include, Reading, Writing, Language, and Speaking and Listening. However, I am always amazed by the amount of “speaking” and the lack of “listening” found in daily discourse.
Calm, quiet, rational – it’s not about the loudest voice. It’s also not about “Who talks the most?” and have they just worn down the listener who really is only listening with one ear? Or is listening and multi-tasking? Is that really listening? What should one really be listening for?
Are speaking and listening two sides of the same coin?
Is a monologue really communication? How important is speaking if there is no listener? And the flip side: Can there be communication if there is only a listener who never speaks? Does a “dialogue” always mean that the speaker and the listener are both equally invested in the communication?
Which of these quotes fits your schema about communication?
- “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.” Peter Drucker
- “Silence is only frightening to people who are compulsively verbalizing”. William S. Burroughs
- “Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing.” Rollo May
- “To communicate through silence is a link between the thoughts of man.” Marcel Marceau
Source: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_communication.html#aWJ5O5Zkmvq5EKqt.99
Why is communication hard?
So why does “communication” break down? Why is it hard to convey a precise meaning in words, coupled with our actions and emotions? Is it complex or as simple as this quote?
What message do you communicate?
Do your actions speak louder than your words?
When do you REALLY listen?
o5.13.14 Check out Julieanne’s post about a student conference. This was totally about listening to understand!
